Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and moderately strong stems; dark green-colored leaves; mophead-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored sterile flowers; when “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum sulfate, sterile flowers are light purple in color; long flowering period; good postproduction quality and longevity and relatively good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Aarslev, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new container-type Hydrangea plants withstrong stems, early flowering response and attractive leaf and flowercoloration.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination during theearly spring of 2013 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophyllaidentified as code number 78-00, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identifiedas code number 080108, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor inFebruary, 2015 as a flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inAarslev, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings inAarslev, Denmark since the spring of 2015 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’ as a newand distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit and moderately strong stems.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored        sterile flowers; when “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum        sulfate, sterile flowers are light purple in color.    -   6. Long flowering period.    -   7. Good postproduction quality and longevity and relatively good        garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the femaleselection parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are stronger than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of plants of the new Hydrangea flower earlier than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and the female parent selection        differ in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of        the new Hydrangea are red purple in color whereas sterile        flowers of plants of the female parent selection are white and        dark pink in color.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea tolerate higher light levels than        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the maleselection parent in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants ofthe new Hydrangea are red purple in color and when “blued”, lightpurple, whereas sterile flowers of plants of the male parent selectionare soft pink in color and when “blued”, light blue in color. Inaddition, plants of the new Hydrangea are more tolerant to high lightlevels, wind and rain than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘H213901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,221. Plantsof the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213901’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the Hydrangea are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘H213901’.    -   2. Plants of the Hydrangea force faster than plants of        ‘H213901’.    -   3. Sepals of sterile flowers of the new Hydrangea are not as        undulate as sepals of sterile flowers of ‘H213901’.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213901’ differ in sterile        flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea        are lighter in color than sterile flowers of plants of        ‘H213901’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘H213906’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,509. Plantsof the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213906’ insterile flower color as when “blued”, sterile flowers of plants of thenew Hydrangea are light purple in color whereas when “blued”, sterileflowers of plants of ‘H213906’ are blue in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 3) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’ grownin a container that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 3) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’ that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 of 3) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’ that has been “blued”.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Aarslev, Denmark and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. Plants of the newHydrangea were pinched two times and were one year old when thephotographs and description were taken. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from40 to 50 klux. In the following description, color references are madeto The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, exceptwhere general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SCHROLL93-13-01’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 78-00, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 080108, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 19° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white, close            to 158C, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial subshrub; compact, upright            and mounded plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; freely            branching habit with about seven to ten lateral branches            developing per plant; moderately strong lateral branches;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 45 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm to 21 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 6 cm to 10 cm.            Strength: Moderately strong, sturdy. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 144A to 144B. Color,            developed: Close to 144A to 144B and at the nodes, close to            79A. Lenticels: Sparse, close to 79A in color.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple.        -   Length.—About 10 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm to 8.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate to cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137A; venation, close to 145C to 145D. Developing            and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A to            137B; venation, close to 145C to 145D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence & flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy single sterile and            inconspicuous single fertile flowers arranged on terminal            mophead-type panicles; panicles globular in overall shape;            fertile flowers face upright to outwardly and sterile            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly depending on their            position on the inflorescence; early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about eight to ten weeks after forcing            period.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, continuous            flowering from August until frost in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—Flowers last about one            month on the plant; fertile flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—Flowers last about four            months on the plant; sterile flowers persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit with about 25            fertile flowers and about 130 sterile flowers per panicle.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm to 9 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 14 cm to 16 cm.        -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 6 mm to 7 mm.        -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.        -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 6 cm.        -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower shape, fertile flowers.—Spherical.        -   Flower shape, sterile flowers.—Rounded, flat to bending            upwardly.        -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 143B; margins,            close to N57C.        -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—To date, petal development on            fertile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have not been            observed.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: If            present, about four in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 65A; when “blued”, close to N89D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 63C; when            “blued”, close to 100B; margins becoming closer to NN155D            with development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Width:            About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pilose. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 65A; when            “blued”, close to 149B. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 65A; when “blued”, close to 149B; colors            do not change with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm.            Shape: Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Retuse. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth to            slightly rippled, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 1 C to 1D; color does not change when “blued”.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57C; when “blued”,            close to between N78C and 77C; with development, color            becoming closer to 55A and towards the base, close to 145B            and when “blued”, becoming closer to between 75A and 77B.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62C; when “blued”,            close to 75A to 75B; with development, color becoming closer            to 54A to 54C and towards the base, close to 145B and when            “blued”, becoming closer to 75B to 75C.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 64B; when “blued”, close            to 150B.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Upright to            almost horizontal. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close            to 58A; when “blued”, close to 150A.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About ten. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament            color: Close to N57A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to 64B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155C. Pistils: Pistil            quantity per flower: About three. Pistil length: Less than            1 mm. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to N57A.            Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 63C. Ovary            color: Close to 63C.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight to ten. Filament length: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Filament color: Close to N57A. Anther length: About 1            mm to 2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to 64B.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155C. Pistils:            Pistil quantity per flower: If present, three. Pistil            length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Stigma shape: Oblong. Stigma            color: Close to 59C. Style length: Less than 1 mm. Style            color: Close to 58A. Ovary color: Close to 58A.        -   Seeds (present on fertile flowers only).—Quantity per            fertile flower: About 30 to 1,000. Length: About 0.5 mm.            Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color: Close to 200C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to 38° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named‘SCHROLL93-13-01’ as illustrated and described.